Pawel Achtel
ACS

Biography

Over past 20 years I dedicated much of my time to wildlife film making. As a film maker, I believe in continuous improvement by merging science-based camera technology with research-based animal behaviour.

In 1999 I produced and directed my first film, Aliens of the Sea. This film received the best documentary award at New York International Film Festival (1999); Aliens of the Sea was awarded the First Prize, Gold Camera Award in US International Film Festival and two Awards for outstanding Cinematography in International Wildlife Film Festival, Montana (2000).

In 2005 I spent three months in Antarctica filming the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling campaign for Channel 7 News.

In 2013 I received a cinematography award from the Australian Cinematographers Society for a preview of the humpback whale sequence for Sea of Love 3D IMAX film.

Over the past few years I have been working as a DOP on several Australian live events and features.

My underwater footage has been featured in many network specials, including National Geographic, Discovery and the BBC.

I’m actively involved with Australian Cinematographers Society and have been conducting presentations and workshops for their members. These presentations focused on stereography, colour science and the quantitative evaluation of underwater optics.